Assorting-machine



B. L. AND E. B. GIFFORD.

ASSORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I7, |919.

B. I.. AND E. B. GIFFORD.

ASSORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man rss. I7. 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

Iffnlll Berg-17.

L' rez foward )l hyena-f...

Jiwg.

B. L. AND E. B. GIFFORD.

ASSORTING MACHINE.

ArPucATloN FILED ma. l1. 1919.

1,39 ,955. Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

\v 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MMI

B. I.. AND E. B. GIFFORD.

ASSORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17,1919.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

B. L. AND E. B. GIFFORD.

ASSORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED fzs. 17. 1919.

1,397,955. Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Ed arfB. yl-Ey IMJ, i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERT L. GIFFOR-D AND EDG-AR B. GIFFORD, OF BAKER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE REX COMPA'Y, OF ROCHESTER, NEVI YORK, A COR- PORAT'ION OF NEBRASKA.

ASSORTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

a??- avlom it may concern.'

Be it lnonf'n that nie, Bizar L. Grrronn and Finoein B. Grrorn, citizens of the United States, residing at Barker, in the county ot' 5 Niagara and State oi" New York, have inrented certain ner,v and useful improvements in issorting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in l asserting machines, such as are adapted to assort irait and other produce into lots of litlferent sizes.

@ne of the primary objects of our invention is the productio ot 'what ma)7 he termed i sion is made tor deliering the assorted or graded vtruitorohcr produce to one s1de of he machine so as to eliminate the use ot a '..uhle capacity machines in which the or other produce is delivered to oppri-site sides or the machine.

Another object ot our invention is the ion ot. a machine which is simple in s ruction and thorougl)Y effective in grading apples, `coaches. and other fruits, as vieil talolcs, and in which provision is 'l'iiiclily and conveniently adjusting to the .'arions sizes ot the prodrrnother ohj ect is the production ot a machine et' this kind having novel means for adjusting the forwarding surface of the runiat fruit or small Vegetables ot difl' "ill hc delivered to the. gradith facility.

s ot our intention are. the

antially horizontal, plane and so that l Qjfaded in accordance with r talzen at rA it angles to a through the stem and blow oination ot' parts to he ..-rihed and more iLJarticul-arly snhgoined claims.

elevation et machine rdance with our invena double capac yj, machine. in which provition, a portion ot' the inclined feeding or elevating leg being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan View ot the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 3-3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4; is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 4 4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken to one side of the longitudinal center ot the machine.

Fig. G is a perspective View ot a portion oi' the endless feeding belt or carrier and the means tor guiding the fruit or other produce to the grading spaces of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View oi a portion or' a machine showing one of the adjustable grading rollers, the supporting trames therefor, the means -for driving said roller7 and the endless teeding belt or carrier.

Fig. S is a plan *View of a modiied torni ot grading roller. one particularly designed tor grading potatoes.

Fig. 0 is a side elevation ot a modified form ot our invention7 showing what may he termed a single asserting machine.

Fig. l() is a plan View oitl the same.

Fig. l1 is an enlarged 'fraf ineiitai' \,v7 transverse section taken on line 'll-l1, Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 12-12, Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged end upper portion of the machine the lett of Fig. 9.

Fig. 14C is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on line 14e-14, Fig. i).

Fig. l5 is an enlarge-d fragmentary transverse section taken on line "i5-l5, Fig. 9, looking toward the lett.

Having reference non7 to Figs. l to 8 of thc drawings, the reference numeral 1G designates a traine which may he constructed in any suitable manner. VrThis trarne, however, is preferably 'formed ot a pair ot longitudinally-disposed upper members 1 7 Yfastened to tour uprights or standards connected together at their lower ends hy nicans of longitudinal tie-members 19 and transverse tie-members 20. The uprights or standards are braced near their lower ends to the longitudinal upper members l? log.' hrace members 21. Near their upper ends, opposite uprights or standards 18 are connected together hy transverse supporting members Q9 upon which rest a pair ot spaced longitudinal supporting members 23, and an adriew of the viewed from ditional transverse supporting member 24 carried by short standards 25 secured to the pair of longitudinal upper members 17 also serves to support said spaced longitudinal supporting members 23. These longitudinal supporting members extend outwardly beyond the uprights or standards 18 and at each end of the machine are connected together by a transverse tie-member 26.

27, 28 designate belt pulleys or reels, each having shafts 29 secured to opposite ends thereof, said shafts being journaled in bearings 30 secured to the under sides of the longitudinal supporting members 23. Arranged around said belt pulleys or reels is an endless feeding belt or carrier 31, the outer face of which serves as a forwarding surface. These pulleys or reels are slightly crowned so as to give the belt pitch laterally in opposite directions from a point medially between the ends of each pulley or reel. In order to keep this belt taut, the bearings 30 are adjustably secured to the longitudinal supporting members 23, the adjustment being effected by adjusting bolts 32 passing through said bearings and through the transverse tie-members 26 at opposite ends of the longitudinal supporting members 23, nuts 33 being secured to said bolts and bearing against the transverse tieemembers. The belt or carrier 3l travels in contact with two supporting boards 34 which are inclined laterally in opposite directions with a clearance space 35 between the inner edges of the same. These boards are hinged or otherwise pivotally secured at their outer edges, as at 36, to extensions 37 of the transverse supporting members 22, 24, and threaded through said transverse supporting members and the extensions thereof are adjusting bolts 38, the upper end of each of which .is rotatably mounted or otherwise arranged in a bearing block 39 having its upper face inclined laterally in opposite directions from a point midway between its ends. @n the oppositely inclined portions of each bearing block 39, the inner marginal portion of the supporting boards 34 rest. Consequently, when adjusting the bolts, these bearing blocks move upwardly or downwardly, as the case may be, causing' the supporting boards to swing on their pivots so as to increase or diminish the inclination of these boards and consequently the inclination in opposite directions of the feeding belt or carrier.

40 designates a drive shaft journaled in bearings secured to the uprights or stand ards 18 at the feeding end of the machine. This shaft has a pulley 41 secured thereto, around which a driving belt 42 is passed which may be operated by any suitable source of power. On said driving shaft 40 a sprocket wheel 43 is secured around which and a sprocket wheel 44 secured to one of the shafts 29 of the adjacent belt pulley or reel 27, a sprocket chain 45 is passed, said chain serving to rotate said pulley or reel and cause the endless feeding belt or carrier to travel and feed the fruit or other produce through the machine to be assorted in the manner to be hereinafter described.

46 designates a portion of a bin into which the fruit or other produce to be assorted is placed. This bin is provided with a spout 47 leading to the lower end of an inclined feeding or elevating leg 48. The upper end of said leg is supported on the feeding end of the machine frame. This elevating leg comprises side members 49 to the lower edges of which bearings 50 are secured in pairs and in each pair is journaled the shaft of a reel 51 one reel being at the lower end of said leg and the other at the upper end thereof.v Passing around said reels is an endless feeding belt 52 havino slats or strips 53 secured to its outer surface so that when fruit or other produce is delivered onto the belt from the bin 46, it may be `carried upwardly, with the slats or strips serving to retain the fruit or other produce upon said belt. As the fruit or other produce is delivered into the machine at a high point, it is apparent that this feeding or elevating leg is of great convenience, owing to the fact that the fruit or other produce to be assorted need not be lifted in the usual cumbersome manner, as the bin 46 into which the fruit is placed is at a comparatively low point and the fruit will be deliver-ed automatically into the machine.

At the feeding end of the spaced longitudinal supporting members 23, a pair of brackets 54 are arranged, these brackets having upwardly opening notches in which the opposite ends of the shaft projecting from the upper reel 51 of the feeding or elevating leg are journaled. These brackets, in additionto serving as journals for said shaft, also serve as a means to retain the upper end of the elevating leg on the frame of the machine. Secured to said last-mentioned shaft is a sprocket wheel 55, around which and a sprocket wheel 56 secured to one of the shafts 29 of the carrier pulley or reel 27 a sprocket chain 57 is passed. Thus, the endless belt or carrier of the feeding or elevating leg 48 is driven from the shaft of the carrier pulley or reel 27 at the feeding end of the machine.

Secured to the inner faces of the side members 49 of said feeding or elevating leg at the upper or inner ends thereof, are two guard members 58 which serve to prevent the fruit or other produce delivered from said leg onto the forwarding surface of the feeding belt or carrier, and fastened to these guard members by means of a cross strip or otherwise is a flexible guide-member 59 which may be a piece of canvas or other like material having its upper end in close proximitv to the endless belt or carrier or the feed-ing or elevating leg and its loner end resting loosely in Contact with the lorwarding surface ot the feeding belt or carrier so that lf'ruit or other produce leaving the leeu- `ing or elevating leg will be assured ot proper delivery onto the forwarding suriace or slid feeding belt or carrier.

Arranged at opposite sides ol the in aclun are two sets of alined bearin secured to the upper ends ot' i standards 1S, to the upper ends ot the short standards 25. and to short standards ing troni the ltransverse tie-member 2o at feeding end ot the machine. in each set these bearings a shaft 02 is journaled on which is pivotally mounted a p luralwityY or grading trames in 'the drawings l. have shown two sets ot grading trames at opposite sides of the longitudinal center ot' the machine. each set consisting oi four 'lraiues, but it fis/apparent that the nuiner of ing trames to a set may be varied, dep-enhing' on the number ot lots into which` the Jr'riiit or other produce is to be graded. i` grading traine comprises tuo side bars supported at their outer ends by one shafts 52 and in which said short Between their ends these side members are connected by a longitudinal tie-mei l", and journaled in the inner ends of the side bars'il ot each grading trarne is a grading roller The grading runes ol each set are arranged side bv side, and secured to each shaft adjacent ne of the side members ot each grading traine is a heit pulley (3T,

h 'I i i around which and the grading roller or tue saine traine, a driving belt 'zo is passl The longitudinal tie-ineiu'oers or the ing trames at each side ot the inachine nositioned' directlv over the longitu L 1 ,1 pf: supporting ineinuer r at tue saine i the machine. and threaded through e`rr` said tie-members vtroni the top are one or riore adjusting bolts 69. the lower ends of which bear against the upier tace ot said longitudinal supporting in to adjust the grading roller the forwarding surface or or carrier. Consequently, by

djusting bolts 5l), the distance y grading roller o'the sere ai and the forwarding suiiace belt or carrier maj; be being enlarged from the 'feedin machine to the deliverj.' einV clearlv shown in Fig.

lt is apparent that when adi. grading frames, they swing upw; downwardljv according to the '1 made. with the sharts and in order to retain the j each traine in adjusted position i Y spring is provided for each in` nie, opposite ends ot each spring being secured to a longitudinal tie-member of the grading traine and the longitudinal supporting lneniber directly beneath.

llach ot the shafts G2 has a pulley Tl secured thereto, and at each end of the drive shalt l0 is a pulley 72 arranged at a right angle to the pulleys 7l. Passing around the pulleys 7l and 72 at each side of the traine is a driving belt T3. The grading rollers are therelfore rotated i'roin the drive shaft 40, through the medium ot the pulleys 72, belt T25, pulleys 7l, shafts G2, pulleys 67 and belts GS.

it is to be noted that the supporting boards 39 have longitudinal depressions 74 on their upper sides. Said depressions extend from end to end ot each ot' said boards and are covered by the feeding belt or carrier 3l. T his feeding belt or carrier is preterably made of canvas or other flexible inaterial, and when the fruit is carried along by said belt or ca 'rier and travels in con- 't with the grading rollers, the fruit is ing boards, and it is further to be noted that each ol the grading rollers has its inner halt traveling upunirdly so as to prevent the fruit being `l'orccd laterally through the grading soaee between the roller and the feeding belt or carrier. By thus rotating the grading rollers, the truit will not pass underneath the saine until a grading space has been reached, which will admit its tree passage therethrough. This will prevent crushing of the truit or other produce. Furthermore, when the Ylruit or other produce passes through said grading space, it cannot be bruised or squashed even though a hump or enlarged portion ot the fruit is encountered, siu'ce the belt or carrier will yield by entering the depression Tet in the supporting board 'which it covers, with the result that a pocket will be formed in the belt or carrier to rece-ire the lruit and the fruit will be automatically thrown out ol Contact with the grading roller beiore pinching or bruising or the Yfruit can talie place. g, 1l against injury to the 'r'ruit or other produce, the mounting oi' the grading tranles such that they are permitted to swing upalthough restrained by the retraetile To, and this causes momentary eulargezn-ent oit the grading space so as to allow the passagrI et' the iruit or other prodi therethrough. Moreover, by incliuing 'fading heit or carrier, as shown, and o' the Grading rollers to rotate that nner halves move upwardly, the 'fruit g orward with the belt or carrier is suine a ce tain position so that -rit graded acrording to size, cou- 1 l on a certain basis; tor example. when :ding applesA` the apples are positioned ich their stems and blows at right angles =ctly over the depressions in said supports a further to the forwarding surface of the feeding belt or carrier, or substantially so.

Throughout the greater portion of the length of the machine, the opposite edges ofthe feeding belt or carrier are spaced from the longitudinal supporting members 23 so that fruit or other produce passing underneath the grading rollers is free to drop through said spaces and be delivered onto receiving racks or tables 75, 76, one of which is a single raclr or table and the other a double rack or table, as shown in Fig. 2 `of the drawings.

In the particular representation of my invention illustrated, I have shown four pairs of grading rollers, the rollers of each pair being at opposite sides of the machine. The double receiving rack or table 76 is adapted to receive the fruit or other produce from two pairs of grading rollers, while the single receiving rack or table 75 is adapted to receive the fruit or other produce from one pair of grading rollers, and as shown in the drawings the first pair of grading rollers at the receiving end of the machine is adapted to cause fruit to be delivered to opposite sides of the machine, no receiving rack or table being provided for the same, although one may be used for this pair of grading rollers, if desired. Underneath each roller of the first pair of grading rollers, a guide board 77 is arranged which extends inwardly from the adjacent longi tudinal supporting member 23 to within close proximity of the adjacent edge of the feeding belt or carrier. These guide boards may be hinged or otherwise secured to said longitudinal supporting members and they serve to close the space between the latter and the edges of said feeding belt or carrier; thus fruit or other produce passing underneath the first pair of grading rollers is guided outwardly over the longitudinal Supporting members 23 and may fall into any suitable receptacle placed beneath to receive the same.

The second pair of grading rollers is adapted to deliver the fruit or other produce to the single receiving rack or table 75, while the two remaining pairs of grading rollers deliver' the fruit or other produce to the double receiving rack or table 76. Each of these receiving racks or tables receives support from one of the longitudinal upper members 17 and the inner end thereof bears against the under side of the longitudinal supporting member 23 at the opposite side of the machine. In order to retain the racks or tables in position, a swinging catch 79 or other suitable fastening device is secured to the outer side of each of said longitudinal supporting members 23, and one of these catches is adapted to be connected to a cooperating part or eye 8O secured to the rack or table. The receiving rack or table is therefore readily removable and may be reversed so that instead of feeding'to the side of the machine shown in the drawings, it will feed to the opposite side of the machine, in which case the other swinging catch 7 9 will be made to co-act with the cooperating part or eye 8O on the rack.

Each of the receiving racks or tables is of a substantially rectangular formation and has side and end walls 81, a removable bottom or table portion 82 at its inner end, and a fixed bottom or table portion 83 at its outer end.` The removable bottom-or table portion of each rack or table comprises a rectangular frame 84 over which canvas 85 or any other textile or flexible material is stretched soras to provide a soft and yielding surface onto which the fruit or other produce is dropped from the feeding belt or carrier. Each of the racks or tables 75, 76 is inclined, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the fruit or other produce will roll outwardly toward the outer end of the rack or table, where it will be retained by a movable wall or walls 86, preferably in the form of gates hinged to the outer end of the fixed bottom portion 83 and retained in upright position by springs 87. The double receiv.

ing rack or table 76 is divided into two parts by a movable dividing wall 88, hinged as at 89, so that it may be swung laterally in either direction, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. From the outer or hinged end of said dividing wall, two short diverging walls 90 are provided which terminate in line with the outer edge of the rack or table, and between the outer ends of said diverging walls and the outer ends of the side walls 81 the gates 86 are arranged. The double rack or table 7 6 therefore has two gates, and when the dividing wall 88 is arranged centrally between or parallel with the side walls 81 of the rack or table, the fruit or other produce from the last two pairs of grading rollers will be delivered in two separate lots. When swinging the dividing wall 88 either to the right or the left, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the fruit or other produce passing under the last two pairs of grading rollers will be delivered from the double receiving rack or table as a single lot.

At the end of the machine opposite the receiving end, provision is made for delivering the largest size of fruit or other produce passing through the machine, and for this purpose a receiving rack or table 91 is provided having supporting legs 92 near its outer end and it is secured at its inner end to the adjacent transverse tie-member 26. This rack 91 is constructed simlar to the racks 75, 76, it having a removable inner bottom portion 93 and a fixed outer bottom portion 94. Like the double rack 76 it is provided with a pivoted dividing wall 95 adapted to be swung laterally in either direction, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and from the pivotal point of this divisional Wall two short diverging Walls 96 are provided Which extend outwardly to the outer edge of the rack or table. Tivo gates 97 are provided so that the fruit or other produce may be delivered into two separate receptacles placed beneath the outer end ot the rack or into a single receptacle, depending upon the position of the dividing Wall 95.

The machine illustrated is therefore arranged to assort fruit or other produce into live different grades or sizes, the first pair of grading rollers at the receiving end of the machine being adjusted to grade the smallest size, or what is generally known as culls, and this size is delivered over the side of the machine into suitable receptacles provided for the purpose. The second pair of grading rollers are adapted to assort the next larger size from the fruit or other produce passing through the machine and deliver the same onto the receiving rack or table 75. The third pair of grading rollers are adapted to deliver the next larger size of fruit or other produce onto the first hall or" the double receiving rack or table T6, ivhile the last pair of grading rollers are adjusted to deliver the next larger size onto the second half of said double rack or table.

All fruit or other produce carried through the machine by the 'feeding belt or carrier 3l which are not assorted laterally by the grading rollers, are carried to the tail or rear end of the machine and delivered onto the feedingv raclr or table 91. For this purpose a guide board 9S is provided, which has its inner edge in close proximity to the feeding belt or carrier, while its outer portion overhangs the transverse tie-member 2G so as to deliver the fruit or other produce onto the flexible bottom 93 oi t-he rack 91, from which it will roll onto the lov-rer portion of the rack or table and be delivered from the outer end thereol" through one or both of the gate openings, depending on the position ot the dividing u'all 95.

iVith a view or" keeping the truitor other produce in contact with the grading roller-'fi While passing through the machine l have provided a super-frame comprising uprights 100 secured to and extcniling upiva-rdlY from the longitudinal supporting members The upper ends ot these uprights are connected together by transverse tie-members lOl. to the under side ot Which a longitudinally-disposed board ith. is secured. This board 102 has a dividing wall 103 secured to the under side thereof. to opposite sides or" which flexible strips lOl are secured. Which bear at their loiver ends against the forwarding surfaces oi' the feed ing belt or carrier. Two longitudinal niembers 105 are secured to the upper sides ci" the transverse tie-members 'lOl at opposite sides ot' the longitudinal center of the machine.

lOG represents two canvas or other tlexible guide members which are in sheet form with opposite longitudinal marginal portions secured to the longitudinal members 105 and to opposite edges of the board 102, the canvas or other material being Yfolded or allowed to sag so that it touches the torvvarding surface oi the feeding belt or carrier, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. These flexible guide members tend to urge the fruit or other produce passing through the machine against the batteries of grading rollers arranged at opposite sides ot' the machine so that when the Jfruit or other produce reaches a roller, adjusted to provide a space underneath the same Which will allow the fruit or other produce to pass, the roller rotating and acting against the fruit, as hereinbefore described, will assure proper delivery ot' the fruit onto the proper receiving rack or table.

In the event of the llexible guide members 10G becoming accidentally elevated from the forwarding suriiace ot' the feeding belt or carrier so that the iruit may pass underneath the same, the fer'ble strips lOl will serve to prevent the fruit coming in contact with the dividing Wall 103 and thus becoming bruised. rlhe outer folds of each of the flexible guide members l0() have a Vshaped flexible guide strip 107 secured thereto at their front ends, the point oi which is arranged centraliy over the belt or carrier, as clearly shown in F ig. G, and extending torwardly from this `\."shaped guide strip is a gate 10S hinged at its rear end adjacent the point ot said il-shaped guide strip, as at 109, and adapted to be retained in longitudinal position or be sivun laterally into inclined position to either side of the machine, as indicated bv dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Uien said gate 108 is swung to one side of the machine, the fruit delivered onto theleeding belt or carrier vvili .be directed toward the grading rollers at one side oi the machine so that the capacity ol the machine may be reduced in accordance with the number oi attendants available or in accordinice With the amount of fruit to be assorted.

Vhile we have shown tour pairs oi grading rollers, it is apparent that this number may be changed and that either a smaller or a larger' number may be employed without departing from the principle oi our invention herein involved or sacricing any olE the advantages thereof.

In Figs. 9 to 15 We have shown a modification of our invention, in which the machine illustrated is What may be termed a single machine; that is. for grading at one side only. In this modification We have substituted for the feeding or elevating leg, a delivery rack or table 110, the delivery end of which feeds the fruit or other produce onto the feeding belt or carrier 111, which belt or carrier travels around the two spaced pulleys 112, 113 journaled in bearings 1141 on the frame 115 oi the machine. The delivery rack or table 1.10 is arranged to feed the fruit into the machine from the side thereof and is located at what may be termed the front end of the machine.

Secured to the shaft of the pulley or reel 112 at the front end of the machine is a crank 116 by means of which the belt or car-` rier 111 may be caused to travel rearwardly so as to carry the fruit or other produce through the machine. In this modification we have shown three grading rollers 117, 118, 119, which are adjustable in any suitable manner to vary the space between each and the feeding belt or carrier, with a view of gradually enlarging the grading spaces toward the rear end of the machine. These grading rollers are j ournaled'in bearings secured to an upright or grading board 120, to the upper edge of which an apron 121 of canvas or other iieXible material is secured, said apron being partly broken away in Figs. 9 and 10. This apron hangs i'rom the up right or grading board 120 in the manner shown in Figs. 12, 14, 15, and tends to crowd the fruit or other produce against the grading roller, as clearly indicated in these iigures, and it is tobe noted that the feeding belt or carrier 111 is inclined toward'the grading rollers. The feeding belt or carrier 111 travels in contact with the upper side of a supporting board 122, which has a. depression 123 in its upper face similar to the depressions 74 formed in the supporting boards of our preferred construction, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8. This supporting board 122 is secured to brackets 124 fastened to the frame 115, as at 125, and through said brackets, adjusting bolts 126 are threaded which bear against the under side oi said 'supporting board so that by threading the bolts more or less through the brackets, the supporting board will be inclined accordingly and consequently the feeding belt or carrier passing in contact with the same be given the desired inclination to :feed the fruit for other produce laterallytoward the grading rollers. ln this instance the grading rollers Vare rotated by means oi a belt 127 which passes around therearrnost grad# ing roller at its rear end, over tightening pulleys 128 and around aopulley 129 secured to the shaft of the pulley 113 at'the rear end of the machine. The tightening pulleys 128 are secured to a pivoted block 130 fastened to one of the side walls oi a receiving rack or table 131, a retractile spring 132 being fastened at one end to said pivoted block and at its other end to saidwall and tending to draw said tightening pulleys 128 laterally away from the grading roller around which said belt is passed. The grading rollers are secured to a single shaft 133 extending from end to end of the upright or grading board 120 so that they all rotate in unison.

lt will be noted that the receiving rack or table 131 rests upon the frame 115 and at its inner end it is provided with a tapered guide strip 134, the highest point of which is level with the feeding belt or carrier, or substan tially so. In this case the fruit passing through the grading space between the belt or carrier and the grading rollers rolls directly into the receiving rack or table and from the latter may be delivered into proper receptacles by lowering the gates of said rack. At the rear end of the machine a receiving rack 135 is provided onto which is delivered the larger size of fruit to be graded,`or of fruit larger than the grading space between the rearmost grading roll and the feeding belt or carrier.

In Fig. 8 we have shown a modied form of grading roller which is particularly adapted for grading potatoes or other produce of elongated shape. rlfhe grading roller shown in this ligure is provided with a spiral `groove 136 through which the potatoes or like produce will be passed lengthwise, the side walls oi the groove tending to move the potatoes or other produce into a flat position in the event of their assuming an upright position and said side walls also act to twist the potatoes so that they will lie flat upon the feeding belt or carrier with their length transverse, to the end that they be delivered through the groove in this position.

It is apparent that under the principle involved, the machine may be modified in various ways without departing from our invention or sacrificing any of the advan-V tages thereof.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. An asserting machine of the kind described, comprising a carrier traveling in one direction, a plurality of grading passages of diil'erent sizes through which different sizes' of Yfruit or other produce may be delivered laterallyV iromsaid carrier, and receiving tables beneath said passages inclined laterally to directthe iruit tol one side of the machine,- each oil-said receiving tables having at least a portion ot its surface `formed of a removable traine andtex tile material fastened at its marginal portions to said frame.

2. An asserting machine ofthe kind de receiving tables beneath said `passages in clined laterally te direct the fruit to one side et the machine, each of said receiving tables having a xed table portion and a removable table port-ion, the removable table portion being situated beneath said ading passages and comprising an open trame and textile material stretched over said traine and Yfastened at its marginal portions thereto.

)in asserting machine oi the kind described, comprising an elongated trame, au endless carrier arranged to travel lengthwise along said trame, a shaft journaled for rotation at each side ci said trame, a series of grading frames secured te each ot said shafts so as to swing thereon, a grading` roller at the inner end et each ot said grading trames parallel with said carrier and spaced therefrom, means ller rotating the grading rollers of each series ol grading frames from each ol: said shafts, adjusting bolts passing through said grading trames and bearinL4 with their ends against said elongated iframe whereby the grading frames be swung on said shafts to position the grading rollers et said frames the desired distance from said carrier, means for retaining each of said grading frames in adjusted position, and receiving means beneath the grading rollers of said two series of grading frames,

4. ln an asserting machine ol the kind de scribed, the combination with a frame having asserting mechanism at an elevated point, of an elevating leg secured to said frame and extending downwarcljv thereA from, and guard members secured te the upper end ot said elevating leg and directed downwardly toward a portion ot said assorting mechanism.

5. ln an asserting machine of the kind dcscribed, the combination with a iframe having asserting mechanism at an elevated peint, et elevating leg secured to said traine and extending therefrom, said ele vating leg having guard members at its upper or inner end extending downwardly therefrom toward a portion et said assorting mechanism.

6. ln an asserting machine et' the hind described, the combination with a e having asserting mechanism at an elevated partthereot, of a feeding apparatus pivotal-lv connected to one end ol' said frame so that it may be swung into horizontal position' each asserting device having a grading roller, a drive shaft, means ter rotating the grading rollers et said asserting devices from said drive shaft, and means tor rotating one et the rollers ot said endless belt from said drive shaft, oli a feeding device connected to said trame, and means for operating said Yfeeding device from the shait oi said last-mentioned roller.

8. In au asserting device of the kind described, the combination with a frame, ot a supporting board arranged lengthwise on said frame, an endless traveling carrier hav ing it-s upper stretch resting upon said supporting board, a series et asserting devices at cach side et said carrier, and a pair et flexible members secured to said trame and hanging downwardly in lf'olded term above said carrier with their folded portions in contact with said carrier, said flexible members being positioned between the two series et asserting devices.

9. rlhe combination with a vtrame having an endless carrier mounted thereon and adapted te travel in one direction, a series of grading elements at each side of said frame in operative relation to said endless carrier, a super-trame extending upwardly above said carrier and said grading elements, and a pair el elongated liexible members having opposite marginal portionsl se cured to said super-frame at high points and sagging between their marginal portions to cause fruit or other produce to be forced thereby against said grading elements.

l0. The combination with a frame having an endless carrier mounted thereon and adapted to travelin one direction, a series ol grading elements at each side et said 'trame in operative relation to said endless carrier, a super-trame extending upwardly above said carrier and said g'ading elements, a pair et' elongated flexible members having opposite marginalA portions secured to said super-trame at high points and sagging between their marginal portions to cause fruit or other produce to be 'fimfeed thereby against said grading elements, and means at the feeding ends oi' said llexible members to direct the fruit or other prodiee to the spaces between each flexible mei and the adjacent grading elements.

1i. The combination ol' a 'ljrame haring an endless carrier mounted thereon and adapted to travel in one direction, a series et grading elements at each side et said 'frame in operative relation to said endless carrier, a super-iframe extending up wardly above said carrier and said grading elements, a pair ot elongated flexible members having opposite marginal portions secured to said superi'irame at high points and sagging between their marginal portions to cause 'lruit or other produce to be forced thereby against said grading elements', and means at the feeding ends of said elongated flexible members to cause fruit or other produce to be directed te either one or both series of grading elements.

'12. The combination Vof a frame having an endless carrier mounted. thereon and adapted to travel in one direction, a series of grading elements at each side of said frame in operative relation to said endless carrier, a super-frame extending upwardly above said carrier and said grading elements, a pair of elongated lieaible members having opposite marginal portions secured to said super-frame at high peints and sagging between their marginal portions to cause fruit or other produce te be forced thereby against the grading elements, and means at the feeding end of said llexible members for directing the fruit or other produce toward opposite series of grading elements, said means comprising flexible member arranged in V-shape and having opposite ends secured te the adjacent ends of said flexible members.

18. An asserting machine of the lrind described, comprising a frame, an elongated traveling element having a forwarding surface, a series of grading elements at each side of the machine having grading rollers spaced from said traveling element, a superframe extending upwardly above said traveling element and having three spaced longitudinally-disposed members, a flexible element between each outer longitudinal member and the intermediate member of said super-frame and being arranged in folded form with its marginal portions secured te said longitudinal members the folds of said flexible member-being in Contact with said traveling element, a flexible strip formed into V-shape with its opposite ends connected to the outer fold of each of said ilexible members, and a hinged gate extending forwardly fromthe apex of said il-shaped ilexible element and adapted te be positioned centrally over said traveling element or inclined laterally to either side thereof for directing fruit or other produce to one or the other side of the machine, or to both sides thereof. Y

14. 1n an asserting machine of the lrind described, a traveling element having a forwarding surface inclined laterally in opposite directions, and means for adjusting the inclinations of said traveling element.

15. In an asserting machine of the lrind described, a traveling element having a forwarding surface and being inclined laterally Y in opposite directions from its longitudinal center, and means forincreasing er ldiminishing the lateral opposing inclinations oi" said forwarding surface.

16. VAn asserting machine of the kind described, comprising a frame, a pair of parallel supporting boards being pivetally connected at their outer edges to said frame, a traveling carrier supported by said supporting beards, and adjusting means common to both boards for adjusting the same to incline hem opposite directions.

l?. iin asserting machine of the kind described, comprising a frame, a pair of parallel supporting boards pivotally connected to said frame at their outer edges, adjusting means mounted in said frame and adapted for engagement with said supporting boards to incline the same in opposite directions, and a traveling carrier movable over said adjusting beards and being inclined thereby in opposite directions from its longitudinal center.

18. en asserting machine of the kind described, comprising a frame, a pair of par` allel supporting boards pivotally connected at their outer edges to said frame, adjusting belts threaded through said frame at different points and having bearingI blocks at their upper ends against which the inner marginal portions of said supporting boards bear, said supporting boards being inclined oppositely te any desired degree by adjustment of said adjusting bolts, and an endless traveling element supported by said supporting boards and inclined thereby in opposite directions from its longitudinal center.

19. in asserting machine of the kind described7 comprising a frame, a supporting beard pivotally secured to said frame at one et its edges, means carried by said frame for inclining said supporting` lboard to the desired degree, and an endless traveling element over said supporting beard in Contact therewith.

lin asserting machine of the kind described, comprising a frame, a supporting beard pivotally secured to said frame along one edge thereof, adjusting means passing through said frame at different points and extending upwardly in contact with the under side er said supporting board and serv- 'ng te incline said beard laterally' to any desired degree, and a traveling element in ce tact with the upper side of said board; il. n an asserting machine of the kind described, the cembinatien of a supporting beard having a longitudinal depression former therein, and a flexible carrier meinber traveling in Contact with said supporting board and somewhat wider than the depression thereof to entend beyond both sides of said depression.

22. 1n an asserting machine of the kind described, the combination of a liexible traveling element having a ferwardine1 surfaceqv asserting mechanism in coperating relation to said forwarding surface, and a supporting member en which said leXible member travels and whose upper surface is provided. with two spaced bearing Vportions to permit said flexible member to be depressed between said bearing portions in a plane substantially that in which the fruit to be graded travels.

23. In au assorting machine of the kind described, the combination of a flexible traveling carrier, assorting mechanism associated with said carrier, and a supporting member formed to provide a cushioned portion for said traveling carrier over which the fruit to be graded passes.

2l. In an assorting machine of the kind described. the combination of a iiexible longitudinally movable carrier, a series of grading rollers in operative relation to said carrier, and means to prevent pinching of the fruit or other produce when traveling along said grading rollers or underneath the same.

25. An assorting machine of the kind described, comprising a cushioned traveling carrier, and assorting mechanism associated with said carrier so as to position the fruit to be sorted directly over the cushioned portion of said traveling carrier.

26. In an assorting machine of the kind described, the combination of a traveling carrier having a forwarding surface, assorting mechanism associated with said carrier, and means for preventing pinching of the fruit or other produce being assorted and to cause the fruit when pinched to be automatically thrown out of pinching position.

27. In an assorting machine of the kind described, the combination of a longitudinally traveling element having a forwarding surface, and a grading roller associated therewith having a spiral groove extending from one end thereof to the other, the bottom or inner wall of said groove serving as the grading or sizing medium.

28. In an assorting machine of the kind described, the combination of a longitudinally traveling carrier having a forwarding surface, and a plurality of grading rollers associated with said forwarding surface, each of said grading rollers being grooved spirally, the bottom or inner wall of the spiral groove serving as the grading or sizing medium.

29. An assorting machine of the kind described, comprising a traveling element having a forwarding surface, a pair of grading rollers associated with said forwarding surface, and receiving means beneath said pair of grading rollers, said receiving means comprising a table, side walls, a pair of gates at one end thereof, a divisional wall between said side walls pivoted at one end to said table to direct fruit or other produce graded by said machine to both of said gates, said divisional wall being arranged to swing laterally in either direction to direct fruit graded by said grading rollers to either of said gates.

30. An assorting machine of the kind described, comprising a traveling carrier having a forwarding surface, a plurality of grading rollers arranged at one side of said traveling carrier, an elongated flexible member secured at one of its marginal portions in a plane above said grading rollers and hanging loosely therefrom with the end thereof at the feeding end of the machine arranged to direct the fruit or other produce fed into the machine laterally toward said grading rollers.

3l. In an assorting machine of the kind described, the combination of a support, a supporting board adjustably mounted on` said board so as to incline the same to any desired degree, and a traveling carrier having a forwarding surface adapted to move along said supporting board.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

BERT L. GIFFORD. EDGAR B. GIFFORD. 

